Container and withdrawal system

ABSTRACT

An access and/or withdrawal system. The withdrawal system may be used with a container system having an access portal is disclosed. The withdrawal system may be selectively adjustable. The withdrawal system may include a filter member.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. DesignApplication Serial No. 29/739,356, filed Jun. 24, 2020. The contents ofthe above-referenced application are hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a withdrawal system, particularly to asystem including an adjustable tube positioned or able to be positionedin a container.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

A container may generally be used to hold a selected material, such as aliquid, gas, or solid. In various configurations a container may be heldby a person or supported by a platform for holding the selectedmaterial. The container may then be accessed to obtain the material fromwithin the container at a selected time.

Certain containers may be used to hold or contain fluids for use by aperson or community at a selected time. For example, a container may beused to hold water or other drinkable fluid for a period of time. Toensure that the container maintains the fluid within the container, thecontainer may include a lid that is fixable to, but able to be removedfrom, the container, such as having a screw-on lid.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

A container system may contain a selected material for access at aselected time. For example, the container may include a graspablecontainer that is sized to be held by a hand of a human. The container,however, may also be sized in any appropriate manner for selectedpurposes. The material within the container may be accessed by pouringmaterial out of the container, such as a liquid. In various embodiments,however, an elongated tube may also be positioned within the container.The elongated tube may also be referred to herein as a straw. Connectedto the straw may be a mouthpiece that engages and is generally sealed tothe straw. For example, a user (e.g., a human user) may engage themouthpiece with the user's mouth and lips and cause a suction within themouthpiece to form a vacuum within the mouthpiece and, therefore, avacuum within the straw to draw liquid through the straw and out themouthpiece.

Positioned within the straw may be one or more materials, such as afilter that allows for filtering the fluid within the container. Thefilter may be formed of a selected material, such as a block carbon,textile material, textile impregnated with a selected material (e.g.activated carbon), or other appropriate materials.

The straw may be adjustable. In various embodiments, the straw mayinclude more than one member that may move relative to one another. Thestraw may have flexible or breakable portions to adjust a total lengthof the straw. Thus, the straw may be adapted to operate with a pluralityof height containers. The straw, however, may maintain the configurationfor a generally sealed configuration with a low pressure drop to allowease of withdraw, particularly through the filter.

The straw may be connected to a cap. The cap may be fixable to thecontainer. The cap may be adapted to engage a plurality of sizes ofcontainers. The cap may include selected thread sizes and/orconfigurations. Further, one or more adapters may be provided to adaptthe cap to more than one bottle configuration.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a straw assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the straw assembly taken along line3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a detailed cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 3 of anadjustable straw assembly in a first position, according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 4B is a detailed cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 3 of a strawassembly in a second positon, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4B′ is a detailed view of an alternative or additional view of astraw assembly in the second position, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5A is a detailed exploded view of a container enclosure system,according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5B is a exploded view of a closure and straw assembly systemengaging a container;

FIG. 5C is an assembled cross-sectional view of a container enclosuresystem with a straw assembly in a user selected position, according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a terminal end of a straw assembly,according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a terminal end of a straw assembly,according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a terminal end of a straw assembly,according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9A is a detailed view of a closure system having a first containerengagement configuration;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view from FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a container, adaptor, and a closuresystem, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a view of a closure and container assembly, according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a closure assembly, an adaptor, and acontainer engagement configuration, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 13A is a detailed view of a closure system and container, accordingto various embodiments;

FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 13A;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are an environmental view of a straw assembly andcontainer, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 15 is an environmental view of a container and straw assembly,according to various embodiments;

FIG. 16 is an environmental view of a container and straw assembly,according to various embodiments; and

FIGS. 17A and 17B are an environmental view of a container and strawassembly, according to various embodiments.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

With reference to FIG. 1, a container assembly 20 is illustrated. Thecontainer assembly 20 generally includes a container 24 that defines atleast a portions of an internal volume 25 and a closure assembly 26. Asdiscussed further herein, the closure assembly 26 may include a handle30, a lid 34, and a base lid or closure base portion 38. The closureassembly 26 may engage the container 24 via or through the base 38, asdiscussed further herein.

The container 24 includes a first end 42, which also may be referred toas a bottom end 42, and second end 46, which may also be referred to asa top end 46. Near or at the top end 46 may be an engagement or closureengagement feature or wall 49 (FIG. 5C) that may include an externallythreaded wall and/or an internally threaded wall. As discussed furtherherein, the base 38 may include a selected engagement portion to engagethe closure of the container 24.

The container 24 further includes an external wall or surface 60 thatextends from the bottom end 42 to the top end 46. The wall 60 may beformed as a single piece, such as in a single extrusion, molding, orforging of a selected material. In various embodiments, the container 24may be formed of a thermoplastic or other appropriate polymer material.In various embodiments, the container 24 may include a single wallstructure where the wall 60 has an external surface and an internalsurface where the internal surface defines the internal volume 25 of thecontainer 24. Further, the bottom 42 and the top 46 may be formed ofseparate members that are connected to the wall 60 and/or may be formedas a single piece with the wall 60, as mentioned above, and as generallyunderstood in the art. In various embodiments, with reference to FIG.5C, a container 24′ may have a double wall 60 a and 60 b. It isunderstood, therefore, that the wall of the container 24, 24′ mayinclude any appropriate number of wall portions.

Generally the container 24 may have a substantially cylindrical wallthat is smooth and has a generally or substantially straight outer wallin cross-section that extends from the bottom 42 to near the top 46. Theclosure assembly 26, however, including the base 38 may form a taperedor angled edge or surface 82. The closure system 26 may be made ofselected materials, with pieces that may be formed separately, includingformed of Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

The surface 82 may be formed or defined by the base 38, such as in afirst base portion 84 having a first surface portion 86 and a secondsurface 88 of a second base portion 92. The first base portion 86 and asecond base portion 92 may be interconnected, as discussed furtherherein. The base 38 may be formed to have a truncated cone shape andconfiguration. Further, the base 38 may define one or more threadportions, such as an internal thread that may engage the container 24.Also, the closure assembly 26 may include a trigger or operationalbutton 96 that may be operated by a user to open or close the cap 34relative to the base assembly 38. With brief reference to FIG. 5C, whenthe button 36 is depressed, a catch may be released and a biasingmember, such as a spring 98, may cause the top 34 of the closure to openby moving about an axle or hinge 100 generally in the direction of arrow102.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5C and FIG. 1, the container assembly20 includes the closure system 26 which may include a mouthpiece 110that may be engaged by a mouth of a user, such as being placed in amouth and a user enclosing lips around the mouthpiece 110. Onceenclosed, the user may draw material from within the container 24through a withdrawal tube 120. The withdrawal tube 120, also referred toas a straw or straw assembly 120, generally extends along an axis 124.The straw 120 may include a proximal portion 128 that is connected tothe mouthpiece 110. The straw 120, therefore, as discussed furtherherein, may be positioned within the container 24 for assisting inwithdrawing material therefrom.

In various embodiments, the container 24 and/or the closure 26 mayinclude portions that are similar and/or identical to those disclosed inU.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2020/0138212 (U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/664,440) published May 7, 2020, incorporated herein by reference.

As discussed above, the tube assembly 120 includes a first or upper end132 which may include the mouth engaging piece 128. The mouthpieceengaging portion 128 may include a cylinder or projection having anexterior wall 134 that may engage the mouthpiece 110. The upper portion132 may be formed as a single member with an upper containment region orportion 138 and/or separate therefrom. Accordingly, the mouthpieceengaging portion 128 may be formed integrally with the cartridge holdingportion 138 or separate therefrom. The cartridge holding portion 138 mayhold a filter member 142. The filter member 142 may be formed of anappropriate material or assembly of materials, such as a carbon block orother appropriate filter material. The filter member 142, therefore, maybe provided in the cartridge holding portion 138 to allow for filteringof a material drawn (e.g., fluid including water) from the volume 25through the mouthpiece 110. The operation of the filter member 142 andthe cartridge holding region 138 may include a process similar to thatdescribed in the U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2020/0138212, asreferenced above.

Extending from the cartridge holding portion 138 may be an adjustableregion 150. The adjustable region 150 may include a first fixed portion154 that may be fixed to the cartridge holding region 138. The fixedportion 154, therefore, may be fixed relative to the cartridge holdingregion 138 and generally not movable relative thereto. Further, thefixed portion 154 may be fixed relative to the mouth piece 110. Asdiscussed above, the mouthpiece 110 may further be connected (e.g.,fixed) to the closure assembly 26.

The adjustable region 150 may further include an extendible or movablemember 158 that may move relative to the fixed portion 154 generally inthe direction of the double headed arrow 162. The movable member 158 maygenerally move relative to the fixed portion 154 based upon engaging aselected portion of the container 24, as discussed further herein. Auser may move the movable member 158 relative to the fixed portion 154to assist in selecting an overall length from the top end portion 132 toa distal end or tip 166, which may also be referred to as a terminalend.

The adjustable region 150 may include a central bore or cannula 168 thatallows material to be drawn through the adjustable region 150 toward thefilter 142 and through the mouthpiece 110 along a flowpath 120 p (FIG.5C). The adjustable region 150, however, may generally provide asubstantially liquid tight seal as discussed further herein. Theadjustable region 150 may further provide a fluid tight seal that issubstantially or entirely airtight. Generally, the adjustable region 150allows a user to draw a vacuum into the straw 120 through the mouthpiece110 without an excessive exertion on the part of the user.

As illustrated in the FIGS. 2-4B and particularly in FIGS. 4A and 4B,the fixed region 154 may include a terminal or end internal wall 172that may be substantially cylindrical. As discussed above, the straw 120may extend along the axis 124 and the wall 172 may be substantiallyparallel therewith. The movable member 158 may also include an externalwall or surface 176 that may also be substantially cylindrical and/orparallel with the central axis 124. The internal wall 172 may have aninterference fit or engagement with the external wall 176. In variousembodiments, for example, the internal wall 172 may include an innerdiameter 178 and the outer surface 176 may include an outer diameter182. The inner diameter 178 and the outer diameter 182 may besubstantially equivalent or equal. In various embodiments, however, theinner diameter 178 may be greater than the outer diameter 182.Therefore, the internal diameter 178 may have a dimension of about 5millimeters (mm) to about 20 mm including about 8 mm to about 12 mm, andfurther including about 10 mm. The internal wall 172, therefore, mayhave a cross-sectional area that is about 20 square centimeters to about50 square centimeters, including about 30 to about 40 squarecentimeters, and further including about 33 square centimeters. Theouter diameter 182, therefore, may be substantially the same as theinternal diameter 178, as discussed above, or include a dimension thatis about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm, including about 0.01 mm to about 0.1 mmsmaller than the internal diameter 178.

In various embodiments, one or more materials may be selected for thefixed portion 154 and the movable member 158 may be selected to form asubstantially fluid tight seal with the selected interference fitbetween the outer surface 176 and the inner wall 172. In variousembodiments, however, a separate sealing member 188 may be provided. Thesealing member 188 may include a selected overhang that may be formed ofa selected material, such as a silicone rubber, an elastomeric materialsuch as a Thermo-Plastic-Elastomer (TPE), and/or an ethylene propylenediene monomer rubber (EPDM). The sealing member 188 may include aninternal diameter that is less than the inner diameter 178 of thecylindrical portion 172 such that it frictionally engages the outersurface 176 of the movable member 158. Thus, a fluid tight seal, such asgas tight and liquid tight, may be formed relative to the movablemember. The sealing member 188 may be held within a notch or groove 192of the fixed member 154. A holding portion or member 196 may be fixed toa distal or terminal end 198 of the fixed member 154 and/or may beformed during formation of the fixed portion 154. Nevertheless, thesealing member 188 may be positioned relative to the fixed portion 154to engage the movable member 158. The sealing member 188 either alone orin combination with the internal surface 172 may form the fluid tightseal relative to the movable member 158.

In other words, a fluid tight seal may be formed between the fixedportion 154 and the moveable portion 158. Thus, a flow of a fluid may bethrough the fixed portion 154 and the moveable portion 158 and notaround the moveable portion 158 and into the fixed portion 154. Thefluid tight seal may be formed with an interference fit alone, asdiscussed above, and/or with the sealing member 188. Regardless, theseal may ensure that a fluid may flow only along the flowpath 120 p ifselected.

The fixed portion 154 may include a proximal or second region 202 thatmay also be cylindrical and/or include an angle 206 relative to thecentral axis 124. In various embodiments, the second portion 202 mayinclude an internal diameter 208 that is greater than the internaldiameter 178, if the second region 202 is substantially cylindrical,such that an interference is not substantially formed with the movablemember 158 when or if the moveable member is within the second portion202. The second portion 202 may also be angled and taper away from thecentral axis 124 so as also not to form a friction or engagement withthe movable member 158. Accordingly, the fixed or cylindrical region orwall 172 may form a selected fit with the movable member 158 to hold themovable member 158 in a selected position, as discussed further hereineven if the second portion does not. The interference between the innersurface 172 and the outer surface 176 may hold the movable member 158relative to the fixed portion 154 either alone or in combination withthe sealing member 188 if provided.

Further, with reference to FIG. 4B′ a straw assembly 120′ isillustrated. The straw assembly 120′ may be similar to the strawassembly 120 except that it includes an intermediate or additionalmember 158 a. The intermediate member 158 a may be positioned andmoveable between the fixed member 154 and the adjustable member 158.Thus, the adjustable member 158 may seal and be moveable relative to theintermediate member 158 a. Also, the intermediate member 158 a may sealand be moveable relative to the fixed member 154. The flowpath 120 a maybe formed through all of the adjustable member 158, the intermediatemember 158 a, and the fixed member 154.

The straw assembly 120′ may be made of similar, identical, or differentmaterials than the straw assembly 120. The entire assembly 120′ and/orportions thereof may be formed of selected polymers, rubbers, orsynthetic rubbers. For example, the each of the members 158, 158 a andthe sealing member 1858 may be formed of one or more of an elastomericmaterial such as a Thermo-Plastic-Elastomer (TPE), silicone, and/or anethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM).

In various embodiments, such as in use by a user, the movable member 158may be moved in a first direction 162 a to a first or extended position.At a selected time, the movable member 158 may have the terminal end ortip 166 engage a surface such that a force applied moves the movablemember 158 in the direction of arrow 162 b relative to the fixed member154 to a second position. For example, a user may engage a surface 202of the container 24, or an appropriate container, and cause the moveablemember 158 to move relative to the fixed member 154 and/or themouthpiece 110 and/or the closure 26. Therefore, the movable member 158may move generally along the axis 124 in the direction of the arrows162.

With reference to FIGS. 5A-5C, a use of the straw assembly 120 isdiscussed and illustrated. Generally, the straw assembly 120 may bepositioned within the container 24 and self-adjust due to interaction ofthe tip 166 of the movable member 158 with the internal surface 220 ofthe container 24. In various embodiments, the movable member 158 may beentirely withdrawn and/or removed from the fixed or immovable portion154. Accordingly, a user may substantially clean the entire length ofthe movable member 158 and reinsert the movable member 158 into thefixed portion 154, such as generally into the cylindrical region 172.The user may further draw the movable member 158 to a maximum dimensionor height 224 relative to the top region or portion 132. The maximumextent 224 may generally be any appropriate maximum length and maygenerally allow that a selected portion or length, such as about 0.1centimeters (cm) to about 1 cm of the movable member 158 is maintainedwithin the immovable portion 154 and relative to the cartridge region138.

The movable member 158, once at the maximum dimension or at a selectedextent removed or pulled out from the fixed region 154 may be movedrelative to the container 24, such as generally into or through theclosure region or wall 49 of the container 24. As the straw assembly 120is passed through the opening or closure region 49 it is moved into thecontainer volume 25 within the container 24. When the distal tip 166engages the bottom surface 220 of the container 24, but force is stillbeing applied (e.g., by the user) thus making the movable member 158 maymove generally in the direction of the arrow 162 b toward the fixedregion 154 of the straw assembly 120. The user may continue to move theclosure member 26 to which the straw assembly 120 is connected generallyin the direction of the arrow 162 a to move the closure 26 toward thecontainer closure portion 49. The user, therefore, may continue tocompress the movable member 158 into the cylindrical wall region 172 ofthe fixed portion 154.

As the user continues to move the closure member 26 toward the containerclosure portion 49 and compress the movable straw portion 158, the usermay cause the straw assembly 120 to self-adjust or adjust the length ofthe straw assembly 120. With reference to FIG. 5C, the user may connectthe closure member 26 to the container 24 in an appropriate manner, asdiscussed further herein. Once the closure member 26 is fully engaged orengaged a selected amount with the container 24, the straw assembly 120may reach a usable or adjusted length 230. The adjusted length 230 maybe due to movement of the enclosure member 26 toward the container 24generally in the direction of arrow 162 a and movement of the movablemember 158 toward the fixed portion 154 generally in the direction ofarrow 162 b.

The adjusted length 230, therefore, may be substantially self-achievedor self-adjusting due to movement of the enclosure 26 relative to thecontainer 24. As discussed above, the interaction of the movable member158 with either the sealing portion 188 and/or the cylindrical surface172 may provide a fluid-tight seal to allow the user to withdraw fluidfrom the container volume 25 via the mouthpiece 110. The straw assembly120, however, may be used in a plurality of heights of containers and/orheights of the volume 25 due to the adjustment of the movable portion158 relative to the fixed portion 154.

Further, the straw assembly may include the filter member 142 and thecartridge or filter region 138 and provide a filtering of fluid thatpasses through the straw assembly 120. The filter member 142 may beformed in any appropriate manner, as discussed above. The filter member142 may further allow the user to filter a material (e.g. a fluid suchas water) by withdrawing the material through the straw assembly 120.The moveable member 158, however, allows the straw assembly 120 to beused in a plurality of container dimensions.

As noted above, the straw assembly 120 may include the terminal tip 166.The terminal tip 166, however, may be provided relative to various drawportion or areas (e.g., bores) relative to the movable member 158. Withreference to FIG. 6, the movable member 158 that extends along the axis124 may include a distal surface 240 that extends along a plane or line244. The surface 240 extending along the plane 244 may be formed at anangle 248 relative to the long axis 124. The angle 248 may generally benon-zero and non-perpendicular angle. Therefore, the angle 248 maygenerally be between about greater than zero degrees and about less than90 degrees, including about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees. The surface240 formed relative to the terminal tip 166 allows for access for afluid to move generally in the direction of arrow 252 into the movablemember 158. The surface 240 being formed relative to or at the angle 248can insure an opening of a void or bore 256 near the terminal tip 166and through the end surface 244. The void 256 allows for passage offluid even when the terminal tip 166 is in contact with a surface, suchas the bottom surface 220 of the container 24.

With reference to FIG. 7, a movable member 158′ is illustrated. Themovable member 158′ may be similar to the movable member 158 and includethe terminal end 166. The movable member 158, however, may include apassage or slot 260 formed by an opening 264 in the wall 266 of themovable member 158′. The passage 260 may be formed as a bore or void inthe wall 266. The passage 260 may allow the fluid to pass through themovable member 158′ even when the terminal tip 166 is in contact withthe surface 220 of the container 24.

With reference to FIG. 8 a movable member 158″ is illustrated. Themovable member 158″ includes the terminal end 166. The terminal end 166may include one or more gaps or voids 270 formed through a wall 274 ofthe movable member 158″. The voids 270 may extend entirely through theterminal end 166 such that the terminal end 166 is segmented. The voids270 may be formed relative to the central axis 124 of the movable member158″ and allow for passage of fluid from the container volume 25 to themovable member 158 and to the mouthpiece 110. The voids 270 that areformed through the wall 274 to or adjacent to the terminal tip 166 allowfor the terminal end or tip 166 to be in contact with the surface 220 ofthe container 24 while allowing drawing of fluid through the slots 270and through the movable member 158″.

According to various embodiments, therefore, the movable member 158 mayinclude the terminal tip 166 that may contact the bottom surface 220 ofthe container 24. The respective voids or passages 256, 260, 270 allowfor fluid to pass through the movable members 158, 158′, 158″ even whenthe terminal tip 166 is in contact with the surface 220. Further, theterminal tip 166 may contact the surface 220 to allow for adjustment ofthe movable members 158, 158′, and 158″ to achieve the adjusted height224. It is further understood that the terminal tip 166 may haveappropriate voids or passages formed relative thereto, including thosediscussed above to allow access to the internal passage 168 of themovable member and the straw assembly 120 even when the terminal tip 166is in contact with the end surface 220.

The straw assembly 120 is associated with the closure assembly 26. Thestraw assembly 120 may be an adjustable straw assembly, as discussedabove, allowing the movable member 158 to move relative to the fixedportion 154. Accordingly, the straw assembly 120 may be used with aplurality of different containers having different dimensions, such ascontainer heights or internal volume heights (FIG. 5C). Further, theclosure assembly 26 associated with the mouthpiece 110 and/or the strawassembly 120 may be provided with various constructs to engage differentor a plurality of containers 24, 24′.

With reference to FIG. 9, the closure assembly 26 may include the base38. The base 38 may define an internal thread 300. The internal thread300 may be defined within the base 38 in any appropriate manner, such asby molding, machining, or the like. Generally the internal thread 300,as illustrated in FIG. 9B, may be formed internal of the base 38. Invarious embodiments, the base 38 may have an internal thread dimension304 that is about 40 mm to about 80 mm, including about 50 mm to about70 mm, and further including about 60 mm, such as about 63 mm. Theinternal maximum threaded dimension may engage selected containerclosure portions 49, such as those including external threads. Thethreads 300 further include a thread height 308 that is about 1 mm toabout 4 mm, including about 2 mm to about 3 mm, and further including2.5 mm. The thread 300 may include a thread pitch 312 that may be about2 mm to about 6 mm, including about 3 mm to about 5 mm, and furtherincluding about 4 mm. Accordingly, the base 38 may include the threads300 that may engage the bottle connection 49 in an appropriate manner.The base 38 may be formed with the connection portion 26 in anyappropriate manner.

In various embodiments, the base 38 of the connection portion 26 may beselected to be used with a bottle connection portion 49 that includes aninternal thread. For such an instance, an adaptor 320 may be provided.The adaptor 320 may include an external thread 324 that may be engagedby the internal thread 300 of the base 38. The adaptor 320 may furtherinclude an external thread 330 that may engage in internal thread 334 ofthe container connection portion 49. The external thread 330 may haveselected dimensions. For example the threads 330 may include a maximumeight that is about 10 mm to about 30 mm, including about 15 mm to about20 mm, and further including about 18 mm. Further the threads 330 mayinclude a minimum dimension 344 that is about 20 mm to about 60 mm,including about 30 mm to about 50 mm, and further including about 40 mm.The thread 330 may further, therefore, include a thread height 348 thatis about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm, including about 1 mm to about 2 mm, andfurther including about 1.7 mm. The thread 330 may further include awidth 352 that is about 1 mm to about 4 mm, including about 2 mm toabout 3 mm, and further including about 2.8 mm. The thread 330 mayinclude a pitch 354 that is about 1 mm to about 10 mm, including about 2mm to about 8 mm, and further including about 5 mm. The thread 330 ofthe adaptor 320 may engage the internal threads 334 of the containerengaging portion 49. The internal threads 300 of the base 38 may thenengage the external threads 324 of the adaptor 320. In this way, theconnection portion 26 may be connected to the container 24 even if thecontainer engaging portion 49 includes an internal thread 334 while thebase 38 includes the internal thread 300.

With reference to FIG. 11, the connection portion 36 may include aconnection portion 36′. The connection portion 36′ may be substantiallysimilar to the connection portion 26 save that the connection portion26′ does not include the base 38 with the internal thread 300. Rather,the connection portion 26 may include an external thread 370 formed onan outer surface of a base 374 of the connection 26′. The thread 370 mayinclude dimensions similar to the external thread 330 of the adaptor320. Therefore, the threads 370 of the connection 26′ may fit to thecontainer 24 that includes the internal thread at the connection portion49. With the connection portion 26′, the adaptor 320 need not be used toconnect with the container having the internal threads of the containerengaging portion 49.

The connection portion 26′ may be connected to a container having anexternal thread at the container engaging portion 49′. An externalthread 380 may include dimensions substantially complementary to thethread 300 as discussed above. Accordingly, an adaptor 390 may beprovided with internal threads 300′ that is substantially similar to theinternal threads 300, as discussed above. The adaptor 390 may furtherinclude internal threads 394 that are complementary to the externalthreads 370 of the connector 26′. The adaptor 390 may then engage theexternal threads 380 at the container engaging portion 49′ with thecontainer. The connection portion 26′ may have the external threads 370that engage the internal threads 394 of the adaptor 390. This allows theconnection portion 26′ to be connected with the container including theexternal threads 380 of the container engaging portion 49′. Thus theconnection portion 26′ may be used on a plurality of bottle typesincluding internal and external threads.

As discussed above, therefore, the various connection portions 26, 26′may be connected with various different bottle portions to provide theconnection portion 26 therewith and the adjustable straw 120 therewith.The connection portions 26 may include sealing members, such as gasketsor O-rings including an internal sealing member 400 and the connectionportion 26 and an external gasket 410 and the connection member 26′. Thesealing members 400, 410 may be provided to assist in ensuring a fluidtight seal relative to the respective adaptors 320, 390 and/or therespective container engaging portion 49, 49′. The sealing portions mayhave a selected dimension and/or durometer to ensure or assist inensuring a fluid tight seal. In various embodiments, for example, thesealing members 400, 410 may include a Shore A hardness that is about40, including a selected range of about +/−5. In various embodiments,however, the sealing member 400, 410 may also be formed of a materialincluding a durometer having a Shore A hardness of about 60 including aselected range of about +/−5. Accordingly the various, sealing members400, 410 may be formed to compress and seal when the selected connectionmember 26, 26′ engages the respective threaded portion to provide thefluid tight seal.

As discussed above, various connection portions 26 may be interconnectedwith a selected container 24. With reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B aconnection portion 26″ is illustrated. The connection portion 26″ mayinclude portions similar to those discussed above, including the lid 34.The connection portion 26″ further includes a base 400. The base 400 mayinclude an outer wall 404. The base 400 may further include an internalthread 410 and an external but “captured” thread 414. The internalthread 410 may be formed on an interior portion of the outer wall 404.The internal thread 410 may include characteristics substantiallysimilar to the thread 300 discussed above. The external but capturedthread 414 may be formed on an external surface of a central member orportion 418 of the base 400. The external but captured thread 414 mayinclude characteristics substantially similar to the thread 330discussed above. Accordingly, the single base portion 400 may includeboth the thread 410 that is similar or identical to the thread 300 andthe thread 414 that is similar or identical to the thread 330. In otherwords, the base portion 400 may include a container connecting portionhaving two different and distinct features to engage or connect with twodifferent containers have distinct engaging features.

The single base 400 may include a void or area 422 that may have adimension 426 between selected portions of the respective threads 410,414. The dimension 426 may be formed between the maximum thread heightof the respective threads 410, 414 or other appropriate portions.Nevertheless the dimension 46 may allow the base 400 to be threaded ontoa container that includes internal threads, such as the internal threadsillustrated in FIG. 10 for the container connection 49 or externalthreads, such as illustrated in FIG. 12, the container connection 49′.Therefore, the single base 400 may be connected with a plurality ofthread types and containers. This allows the connection portion 26″ maybe connected with a plurality of bottles regardless of the threadedconnection portion.

As noted above, the straw assembly 120 may have a distal tip 166 thatmay be moved relative to a fixed portion 154 with the movable portion158. Thus, the straw assembly 120 may be used in various containershaving different or alternative heights from the connection portion 26to the bottom surface 220. The straw assembly 120, therefore, may beadjusted by a user during use such as by movement or positioning thestraw assembly 120 into the container 24. It is understood, however,that the straw assembly or straw assemblies may be provided according tovarious embodiments.

For example, with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the container 24 withthe connection portion 26 is illustrated. The container 24 may includethe base or bottom surface 220. The connection portion 26 may beinterconnected with a straw assembly 430. The straw assembly 430 mayinclude a cartridge or fixed portion 434 and an adjustable portion orregion 438. The adjustable region 438 may include a plurality ofsegments, such as a first segment 442 and a second segment 446. Thesegments may be formed to break away from one another, as illustrated inFIG. 14B. The segments 442, 446 may be drawn apart from one another suchas in the direction of the double headed arrow 450. The segments 442,446 may be interference fit together such as with a projection 454 thatmay be fitted to a groove 456. The segments 442, 446 may also be formedwith a frangible section between two sections, such that the sections442, 446 may be snapped or broken apart, cut apart, or the like.Nevertheless, a selected number of the segments in the adjustmentportion 438 may be removed to form the straw assembly 430 to include aselected length such that a distal tip may be positioned selected heightrelative to the base 220. Further, the adjustment portion 438 may bepermanently removable, such as by cutting, and/or selectively removableand adjustable such as with a friction or connection fit 454, 456 toallow for removal and replacement of selected sections.

Returning reference to FIG. 15, the container 24 may include theconnection portion 26 and a straw assembly 460. The straw assembly 460may be included in a kit 464 that includes at least two adjustable orselectable segments such as a short segment 468 and a long segment 472.Each of the respective segments may be connected with a fixed orcartridge portion 478. As illustrated in FIG. 15, one of the selectedsegments 468, 472 may be connected with the fixed portion 478 to reachthe base 220 of the container 24. Further, the selected segments 468,472 may be both interconnected with one another and the fixed portion478 to achieve an extended or extra-long straw length. Accordingly, thestraw assembly 460 may be provided with a plurality of removablesegments or a minimum number of removable segments to include a selectedoverall straw length from the connection portion 26 to the base 220 thatmay be selected by a user and interconnected with a fixed portion 478.

With reference to FIG. 16, the connection portion 26 may be providedwith a container 24 or interconnected with the container 24. A strawassembly 490 may also be provided with the container 24 and theconnection portion 26. The straw assembly 490 may include a fixed orcartridge portion 494 and a flexible or adjustable region 498. Theadjustable region may be formed of a selected material, such as asilicone rubber or other food safe flexible material, such as selectedpolymers. The flexible portion 498 may be provided with a selectedlength that may reach or contact the base 220 of the container 24. Theflexible portion 498 may include or thereby flex in a flexed oradjustment region 502 such that a distal end 406 is not flat orpositioned directly in contact with the base 220 at least a passage 508thereof. Thus, a flowpath or passage 508 may remain open due to theflexed or bent portion 502 of the flexible portion 498 of the strawassembly 490. The straw assembly 490 may, therefore, be substantiallyself-adjusting as the straw assembly 490 may be positioned within thecontainer 24 and the flexed region or portion 502 may form due tocontact of the end, such as the terminal end 506, with the base 220.

With reference to FIGS. 17A and 17B, the container assembly 24 mayinclude the connection portion 26 and a straw assembly 520. The strawassembly 520 may include a fixed or cartridge container portion 524. Thestraw assembly 520 may further include an adjustable or adjustmentregion 528. The adjustment region 528 may include a plurality of ridges532 that may be expanded or contracted, such as the direction of thedouble-headed arrow 536. The user may expand the adjustable region 528by expanding the ridges 532. The user may then position the strawassembly 520 within the container 24 and it may contact the base 220,such as with a distal or terminal end 540 thereof similar to the processdiscussed above. The ridge portion 532 may then collapse a selectedamount so that a fluid tight seal is not formed between the base surfaceor floor 220 and the flexible portion 528. Thus, a fluid may be drawnthrough the straw assembly even when the terminal end 540 is near oradjacent to the base 220. Further it is understood that various cutawaysor openings may be formed, such as the passages illustrated in FIGS. 6,7, and 8, discussed above at the terminal end 540.

Accordingly, the straw assembly 120 may include a telescoping movablemember 158 relative to a fixed portion 154. As discussed above, it isunderstood that a plurality of movable or adjustable portions may beprovided such that the straw assembly 120 may include two or moretelescoping portions in a movable portion or region 158. Further, asdiscussed above, according to various embodiments, straw assemblies maybe provided with selected adjustment portions or regions. They mayinclude breakable portions in the adjustment portion 438, selectablelength portions in the adjustment region 468, 472, flexible members 498and/or adjustable region or accordion portion 528. Regardless, the strawassembly according to various embodiments may be provided in a pluralityof containers while allowing the user to position the terminal end ofthe straw assembly near or at the base surface 220 thereof.

Further the mouthpiece 110 may be sealed relative to the lid 34 withoutpinching the mouthpiece 110 and/or engaging the mouthpiece 110 withadditional materials and/or portions. Therefore, the mouthpiece 110 maybe long lasting and have a long life for efficiency of the containerassembly 20 and/or reduction of the used material.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure system for a container, comprising: anengaging member; a mouthpiece extending from the engaging member,wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be contacted by a mouth of auser; a straw assembly extending from the mouthpiece, wherein the strawassembly includes: a first member fixed relative to the mouthpiece, anda second member moveable relative to the mouthpiece.
 2. The closuresystem of claim 1, wherein the straw assembly further includes a thirdmember moveable relative to the first member and the second member. 3.The closure system of claim 1, wherein the second member is moveablerelative to the mouthpiece such that a terminal end of the second memberis moveable from a first position to a second position relative to themouthpiece, wherein the second position is further than the firstposition from the mouthpiece.
 4. The closure system of claim 1, whereinthe straw assembly further includes a sealing portion between the firstmember and the second member to form a fluid tight seal between thefirst member and the second member.
 5. The closure system of claim 1,wherein the first member includes a second member engaging portion thatdefines a substantially cylindrical inner wall to engage a first end ofthe second member.
 6. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the firstmember further includes a filter holding portion spaced a distance fromthe second member engaging portion.
 7. The closure system of claim 1,further comprising: a filter member; wherein the filter member is heldwithin the first member to filter a material drawn through the strawassembly.
 8. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the straw assemblyis affixed to the mouthpiece.
 9. The closure system of claim 1, whereinthe engaging member includes a container engaging portion configured toremovably fix the engaging member to the container.
 10. The closuresystem of claim 9, further comprising: an adapter member having a firstengagement portion to engage the container engaging portion and a secondengagement portion to engage the container.
 11. The closure system ofclaim 1, wherein the engaging member includes a container engagingportion having a first engagement portion to engage a first containerengagement feature and a second engagement portion to engage a secondcontainer engagement feature; wherein the first container engagementfeature is distinct from second container engagement feature.
 12. Theclosure system of claim 1, wherein the second member is at least one ofa telescoping member relative to the first member, flexible relative tothe first member; breakable relative to the first member;interchangeable relative to the first member, or combinations thereof.13. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the second member comprises aterminal end of a surface engaging portion that is configured to engagean internal surface of the container; wherein the surface engagingportion defines a bore; wherein the terminal end is configured tocontact the internal surface of the container while the bore allowspassage of a fluid through the second member.
 14. A closure system for acontainer, comprising: an engaging member having a mouthpiece engagingportion and a container engaging portion; a mouthpiece extending fromthe engaging member and engaged by the mouthpiece engaging portion,wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be contacted by a mouth of auser; a straw assembly extending from the mouthpiece, wherein the strawassembly includes: a first member extending from a first end to a secondend, wherein the first end is fixed relative to the mouthpiece, and asecond member extending from a third end to a fourth end; wherein thethird end is at least partially receivable within the second end of thefirst member; wherein the second member is configured to telescoperelative to the first member from a first position to a second position;wherein the fourth end of the second member is further from the secondend of the first member in the second position than in the firstposition; and a filter portion held within the first member.
 15. Theclosure system of claim 13, wherein the second end of the first memberincludes an internal cylindrical wall configured to engage an outer wallof the second member at the third end.
 16. The closure system of claim13, further comprising: a sealing member positioned at the second end ofthe first member; wherein the sealing member sealing engages the secondmember relative to the first member to limit a passage of fluid towithin a flow passage through the second member and not around thesecond member into the first member.
 17. The closure system of claim 13,wherein the fourth end of the second member comprises a terminal endthat is configured to engage an internal surface of the container;wherein fourth end of the second member defines a bore; wherein theterminal end is configured to contact the internal surface of thecontainer while the bore allows passage of a fluid through the secondmember.
 18. The closure system of claim 13, further comprising: anadapter member having a first engagement portion to engage the containerengaging portion and a second engagement portion to engage thecontainer.
 19. The closure system of claim 13, wherein the containerengaging portion has a first engagement portion to engage a firstcontainer engagement feature and a second engagement portion to engage asecond container engagement feature; wherein the first containerengagement feature is distinct from second container engagement feature.20. A method of selecting a length of a straw assembly within acontainer, comprising: extending a first member of the straw assembly toa first position relative to a second member of the straw assembly;contacting a terminal end of the first member with a surface within acontainer; pushing the first member into the surface with the secondmember to cause the first member to move to a second position relativeto the second member; maintaining an opening through a bore formed nearthe terminal end; engaging an engaging member having a mouthpieceengaging portion and a container engaging portion to the container.